Instructor:  Mervyn Marasinghe, Campus Office: 209 Atanasoff, Phone: 4-0222, e-mail: mervyn@iastate.edu

                                                      Departmental Office: 2304 Wilson, Phone: 4-7774

       Lecture: MWF 1 p.m.,  Sweeney 1126

       Office Hours: MF  2-3, W 3-4

        Please feel free to send e-mail to me anytime with questions or comments.

Lab Instructor:  Antonio Villenueva-Morales; Office: 2439 Wilson; Phone:4-; e-mail: antoniov@iastate.edu

        Laboratory:  R 2-4 p.m., Carver 205 (the lab is part of your class; attendance required)

        Office Hours:    TWR 4-5 will be held in Pearson 0113

Text: An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis by Lyman Ott & Michael Longnecker, 5th Edition,2001

Course Objective: As stated in the preface of the text book "...to prepare students to deal with solving problems encountered in resaearch projects, decision making based on data,, and general life experiences beyond the classroom and university..."

Course Outline (tentative):  To view  this click on  OUTLINE

Organizational Matters:

Final Grade:

Final course grades will be determined by  total points earned from the labs and exams according to the schedule above divided by 500 and expressed as percent. The final percent will be used to rank students and determine cut-off points for assigning letter grades. First, letter grades A, B, C, D, will be assigned  to those with  percentages in the  ranges  90-100, 80-89, 70-79, 60-69 respectively. The cut-off points may be  adjusted (lowered) later depending on the performance of the entire class to increase the proportion of students in the class earning each grade. Plus/minus grades will be assigned to scores near final cut-off points.

• Plus/Minus grading  will be used.
• Makeup exams will be given only if you contact me and get approval prior to the scheduled exam.
• All exams are closed book meaning you will not be allowed to use the textbook or notes during the exam.
• An 8.5x11 inch  formula sheet  prepared by the student will be allowed.
• Any statistical tables needed will be provided.
• Cell phones or other electronic devices (e.g., PDA's, iPods, ear phones, etc.) will not be allowed in the exam room.
  
• You must bring pencils, eraser and scratch paper and a calculator for all exams.
• Note that  Midterm Exams will be given during regular lab hours (locations to be announced).
• Final must be taken at the scheduled time.

• Discussion, Q/A, and help on doing lab assignments.
• Some hands-on illustrations of computing examples.
• For an additional lecture when regular class time will be used for an Exam review.
• For giving scheduled Mid-term Exams in another classroom to be announced.

Lab Assignments:    Lab assignments are distributed and due at the lab session.  Intent of these assignments is to increase understanding of concepts learned introduced  in lectures and  to gain practice in applying these concepts and associated computations.   Discussion with friends and classmates is fully encouraged in completing these assigments. However, copying  of others work  is not a good way to learn and will not be tolerated. Late homework will not be accepted.

Computing: This class focuses on statistical concepts, not details of a specific computing package. We will use JMP  in class and examples of their use are available on the web pages.  No attempt will be made to give details of  the use of the language for general data analysis nor is it expected  that students become experts in the use of JMP.  The TA will help you with JMP. JMP is available under MS Windows in Carver 205 and Durham 139 .   For those who are interested in learning more about JMP, the JMP documenatation  "Introductory Guide" and the "User's Guide" available in the same folder as the JMP software on the desktop is adequate. JMP HELP ROOM in 0113 Pearson is open daily during 9-5.
 
Disabiliy Resources:  If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in thiscourse, please make arrangements to meet with Professor Marasinghe within the first two weeks of the semester. Retroactive request for accommodations will not be honored. Please have Disability Resources complete a SAAR form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodations you will need for this course. You willneed to present this form to Professor Marasinghe.